US warship’s commander finds capital’s winds ‘something else’

A United States warship has arrived in Wellington for a port visit and ‘‘official engagement’’ with the Defence Force, the first visit from the US navy since 2016.

The crew of the USS Howard, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, ‘‘manned the rails’’ as it sailed into the harbour and pulled alongside Aotea Quay yesterday morning.

The ship spent two weeks travelling to New Zealand from its home port, Yokosuka, Japan.

The crew, of more than 300 people, had all been tested for Covid-19, with a New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules parachuting tests into the water near the ship as it passed Auckland. The tests were returned for processing by a helicopter on board the USS Howard before the ship arrived in Wellington.

USS Howard Commander Travis Montplaisir said he was ‘‘excited to be here, but the wind is something else’’.

He said the ship’s visit was ‘‘a visible sign of our commitment to our allies, partners and friends’’.

He would not comment on any operations USS Howard may have conducted en route to New Zealand.

‘‘We did not see any submarines on the way down . . . But we were looking for them. We’re always looking for them.’’

Montplaisir would not state how long the USS Howard might remain in New Zealand but said it would be at least 72 hours.

‘‘There’s no exercise in port, but there’s a number of distinguished visitor visits both off-ship for the leadership to go out and visit with the New Zealand leadership as well as that New Zealand leadership to come here and conduct those co-operative events.

‘‘We come together, we share ideas, we talk about co-operation, the bonds that make us stronger, and that togetherness allows us to build that strong relationship that we need for future events and future exercise operations.’’

The USS Howard was carrying numerous missile systems, including Tomahawk land attack missiles, for purposes including ballistic missile defence and antisubmarine warfare.

It was equipped with a gatling gun that could fire up to 4500 rounds a minute and ‘‘spy arrays’’, Montplaisir said.

The ship had been refuelled by the New Zealand Navy’s oil tanker, the HMNZS Aotearoa, on its way to Wellington.

New Zealand Chief of Navy Rear Admiral David Proctor, in a statement issued last week about the USS Howard’s impending arrival, said New Zealand ships regularly participate in US-led exercises, including last month in Guam, and the Defence Force would ‘‘train and interact’’ with the US ship.